Plaka Grill — Restaurant in Vienna

I visited on a Thursday evening after remembering my positive experiences with the Falls Church branch. My pickup order was ready as promised within 30 minutes, and I was pleased with the prompt service when I arrived. My order consisted of felafel and spanakopita appetizers, a Plaka style Chicago gyro (lamb and beef with fries in the gyro), a side salad, a half chicken alone, and two orders of galaktoboureko for dessert. The phyllo pastry was light, crisp, and flaky while the filling tasted of spinach with the right amount of cheese to accent. The tzatziki sauce had a welcoming sharpness to accompany the crisp felafel fritters. A couple more fritters and a little more seasoning would have been nice, but overall I found these two offerings a great way to start. The gyro came as advertised with a pleasing proportion of meat to vegetables to fries without having to order extra of anything. The meat struck me as a little on the dry side but flavored well and not over salted. Fries were as crispy as a ten-minute car ride back home would allow and were not over salted either. The salad had crisp lettuce and fresh tasting other ingredients like the olives, cheese, and tomato. The chicken comes off the bone easily and has an acceptably seasoned taste, even if I did find the texture a bit dry similar to the lamb and beef in the gyro. Both offerings were enjoyable nonetheless. Dessert was another highlight, as the combination of flaky pastry, well-proportioned filling (looks less than you realize once you start eating), and not overly sweet honey syrup left me with a satisfied feeling overall. The prices strike me as reasonable for the Vienna area. Service was everything you want for a pickup order: cordial and efficient. A staff person taking orders kept me updated on where my order was in his list of takeout and dine-in orders. A few folks had takeout orders before me, and they were not waiting more than a few minutes if that for their food. The interior looked clean with a nice mural decorating the far wall as one enters. I am pleased to know that I can satisfy a Greek food craving with Plaka Grill convenient to my...

Meeting with my Greek contractor, James Kifonidis, at Image Kitchen & Bath, on the other side of Hunter Mill Road from SouvlakiBar, I mentioned how disappointed I am with them, describing my one and only visit. He recommended Plaka in Vienna. Following our meeting, I went there for lunch.

In contrast, Plaka is five star! Chicago Gyro immediately caught my eye on the menu, so I ordered it along with Humus, Spanakopita, and a Mythos Beer. Growing up in the seventies and having many dining experiences at the truly legendary landmark Greektown restaurant, The Parthenon, on Halstead Street in Chicago, I can verify that Plaka indeed is serving Chicago-style gyro.

Chicago-style gyros are characterized by a balance of savory, garlicky, and herby flavors, with a mix of textures from the thinly shaved, crispy outside of the vertically rotisserie-grilled lamb and beef mix, and a tender inside. Creamy tzatziki sauce—a yogurt-based sauce with cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, and dill—adds a cool, tangy, and creamy contrast to the savory, spiced meat. Fresh vegetables like tomatoes and onions, served wrapped in warm pita bread, complete the dish.

The two appetizer triangle-shaped spanakopita were flavor-balanced, featuring all fresh ingredients—spinach, the foundation ingredient, and feta—wrapped in thin flaky layers of phyllo brushed with olive oil.

The small, unassuming spot, seating only 24 guests, serves high-quality Greek fare made with care and pride, in my opinion and experience. I arrived at 2:30 PM last Thursday, and lucky for me, there was one...

Since I am starting to share some of my favorite restaurants in the Washington DC and Northern Virginia metropolitan area, I thought I would share one of my truly favorite restaurants for Greek/Mediterranean food. All the locals know this is "the place" to go for authentic family-style Greek cuisine. My personal favorite is the Chicken Souvlaki sandwich on pita bread. The Tzatziki Sauce at Plaka Grill is unlike the Tzatziki sauce at any other Greek restaurant I have been to in Northern Virginia. My understanding is the yogurt that is used in the preparation of the sauce is shipped directly from Greece which is one of the reasons it has its uniquely fresh flavor. Although many people order the french fries with their sandwiches, I personally opt for the Rice Pilaf which also has great flavor, pairs nicely, and is a bit healthier option. I have been known to get the french fries as well on occasion as well :-) . As all Local Insiders know, this is the original Greek Family-Style Restaurant in Northern, VA. I personally have been going here at least once every couple weeks for 10-20 years and it has been consistently great every time. Insider Tip: Order an extra Tzatziki sauce on the side. You will not be disappointed. And yes, this restaurant is absolutely worthy of Food Network's Guy Fieri to review on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives". Hope to see you there sometime soon Guy!!! ...